I received this book for free from the author as a free story in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the author as a free story
"Knives and Sheaths"
by
Nalini Singh
It is part of the Guild Hunter #5.5 series and is a paranormal romance in a PDF edition that was published by the author on 2012 and has 5 pages.
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Other books in this series include [books_series]
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Must Love Hellhounds, Kiss of Snow, An Enchanted Season, Archangel's Blade, Angels of Darkness, Lord of the Abyss, Desert Warrior, Angels' Flight, Tangle of Need, Play of Passion, Archangel's Storm, Wild Invitation, Heart of Obsidian, Archangel's Legion, "Hide and Seek", "Making Dinner", Shield of Winter, "A Conversation", "Home", Angels' Pawn, "New Year's Kisses", Night Shift, "Weapons Training", "Zoë's Workshop", "Wild Night", Archangel's Shadows, Archangel’s Enigma, Shards of Hope, “Fairy Balloons”, “An Unexpected Guest”, Allegiance of Honor, "The Song of the Wolf", Silver Silence, Archangel’s Heart, Archangel’s Viper, Ocean Light, "Elena's School of Horror", Cherish Hard, "Ain’t No Party Like A Bear Party", Archangel's Prophecy, "One Night At The Refuge", "Secret Things", Rebel Hard, Rock Hard, Wolf Rain, "Clean and Dirty", "Wolf School", "Naya’s Most Important Visitors", "Grocery Shopping", "The Cannibal Princess", "A Gift for Kit", "Movie Night", "Kaleb and Sahara’s Meeting with Sascha and Lucas", "Housewarming at the Orchard", "Christmas in the Kitchen", "Stalking Hawke", "Romancing Drew", "Sunday Morning", "Rowan", "Baubles & Ben", Wild Embrace, Love Hard, Rock Addiction, "Music Awards", Rock Courtship, "Rock Courtship Memo"s, Rock Redemption, "Sunshine", Rock Wedding, "With This Memo", "That Lip Ring…", A Madness of Sunshine, "Beary Tiny Ghosts", Alpha Night, "A Wedding Breakfast", "Poker Night", "Seedlings", "Star Kissed", "A Walk on the Cliffs", "Wild Cat Blues", Slave to Sensation, Caressed by Ice, Visions of Heat, Kiss Hard, Angels' Blood, Archangel's Kiss, Archangel's War, Archangel's Sun, Archangel's Light, Archangel's Resurrection, Last Guard, “A Perfect Moment”, "Music in the Rain", Storm Echo, Resonance Surge, "Mate", “New Year’s Eve”, Archangel's Lineage, Visions of Heat, Mine to Possess, Hostage to Pleasure, Branded by Fire, Blaze of Memory
A free short story, 5.5 in the Guild Hunter paranormal romance series, revolving around an alternate history in which archangels rule the world. The couple focus is on Elena and Rafael. If you’re interested, there is a chronological listing of the Guild Hunter books on my website.
My Take
Singh notes that “the original version of this short story was meant to be a scene in Archangel’s Storm, 5, but” was deleted. Singh decided to extend this scene into a short story.
Singh is using third person point-of-view from Raphael’s perspective, as he appreciates his consort’s dilemma about those cheap sheaths…tsk, tsk, tsk, lol.
It’s not of the caliber of Singh’s other shorts, but it is a sweet scene that reveals the relationship between two warriors…a warrior kind of flirtation.
The Story
It’s a welcome respite from the news Raphael received, as his consort focuses on those shoddy forearm sheaths.
A secret pleasure as he watches and listens to his Elena before his gift.
The Characters
Raphael is the intimidating Archangel of New York, one of the Cadre of Ten. Elena is his consort, a former human who hunted vampires, and became an Angel Made.
The Seven are…
…those whom Raphael trusts the most and includes Dimitri, a vampire, who is his second-in-command and best friend. For the past 1,000 years. Jason, a black-winged angel, is his spymaster.
Janvier, a young vampire who is the dirtiest street-fighter, is not one of the Seven, but could be. Nazarach is one of the powerful angels in Rafael’s territory.
The Guild Hunters are…
…an organization of a type of bounty hunter, contracted to hunt down runaway vampires. Deacon is a highly respected weapons-maker sought out by immortals but whose first loyalty is to the guild.
Lijuan is the deadly Archangel of China who is bringing people back to “life” as the reborn.
The Title
The title is overtly about Elena’s “Knives and Sheaths”…with a subliminal reference to Raphael’s jealousy and preferences.
